United States v. Villa

Opinion

Case: 25-50725 Document: 45-1 Page: 1 Date Filed: 05/27/2026

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ____________ United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit No. 25-50725 ____________ FILED May 27, 2026 United States of America, Lyle W. Cayce Clerk Plaintiff—Appellee,

versus

Eugenio Hernandez Villa,

Defendant—Appellant. ______________________________

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. 6:99-CR-13-8 ______________________________

Before Graves, Ho, and Douglas, Circuit Judges. Per Curiam: * Eugenio Hernandez Villa, federal prisoner # 01208-180, seeks to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) from the denial of his motion for compassionate release pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). By moving for leave to proceed IFP, Hernandez Villa is challenging the district court’s certification that the appeal is not taken in good faith. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997).

_____________________ * This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5. Case: 25-50725 Document: 45-1 Page: 2 Date Filed: 05/27/2026

No. 25-50725

The district court determined that, even if Hernandez Villa had shown compelling or extraordinary reasons for a sentence reduction, he failed to demonstrate that he did not pose a danger to the safety of others and that the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors did not support an early release. It was not obligated to provide further reasoning to support the denial of Hernandez Villa’s sixth motion seeking compassionate release. See Concepcion v. United States, 597 U.S. 481, 501 (2022); Chavez-Meza v. United States, 585 U.S. 109, 116 (2018). Moreover, the district court incorporated by reference its April 29, 2024 order denying Hernandez Villa’s fourth § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i) motion for compassionate release, which provided a more detailed explanation of why the § 3553(a) sentencing factors did not warrant relief. Hernandez Villa’s arguments amount to nothing more than disagreement with the district court’s balancing of the § 3553(a) factors, which “is not a sufficient ground for reversal.” United States v. Chambliss, 948 F.3d 691, 694 (5th Cir. 2020); see United States v. Jackson, 27 F.4th 1088, 1093 n.8 (5th Cir. 2022). As Hernandez Villa fails to demonstrate a nonfrivolous issue regarding whether the district court abused its discretion in denying his § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i) motion, see Chambliss, 948 F.3d at 693; Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir. 1983), his IFP motion is DENIED, and the appeal is DISMISSED as frivolous. See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 n.24; 5th Cir. R. 42.2.